FRANCIS GABRESKI
56th Fighter Group 01/29/1944
a. Combat
b. 29 January 1944
c. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.
d. 1304 hours.
e. South of Koblenz, west of Frankfurt
f. 10/10 stratus at 5,000 feet
g. Me-110
h. One M e-1 1 0 destroyed. i . I was leading "B" group and flying Halstead White one. We made r/v with B -17's at about 27,000 feet. Passing from the lead box to the rear, it was observed that a few stragglers falling behind the last box of bombers were being followed by 10 plus t win engine ships. Immediately Halstead was ordered to attack. A left hand turn was made out of the sun, followed by a 45° dive. Contact with an M e- 110 was made at 18,000. The Hun was just about in position to eject his rockets at a lone B - 17 behind the main bomber force. I leveled off directly astern of the M e- 110 and opened fire at about 700 yards. I did not observe white flashes as six guns were loaded with armor piercing and two with incendiary, but I did observe glycol pouring out of the engines. I close d to 100 yards where I was forced to break off to keep from running into the pieces tearing off the plane. The strikes were centered around the cockpit and right engine. Before withdrawing fire , b lack smoke and flames poured out of the right engine. The plane went off to the side into a 45° dive when last observed wa s seen spiraling into the overcast. I claim one M e- 110 destroyed. j. 511 rds .50 cal . Two (2) guns loaded with incendiary, six guns loaded with armor piercing only . . See supporting statement of Captain J.R. Carter.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by FRANCIS GABRESKI of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of FRANCIS GABRESKI's combat experience.
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